BBC: Pirate Bay block effectiveness short-lived

July 16, 2012

A drop in file-sharing following the courts blocking of the Pirate Bay was short-lived, according to the BBC. A major UK ISP has reported peer-to-peer activity on its network returned to just below normal only a week after the measures were enforced earlier this year.

Critics had warned the ban would prove ineffective. BPI, the music industry trade body, has defended the action saying the group would continue to pursue similar action in future.

The ISP told the BBC that P2P traffic had peaked in the days court proceedings were taking place, largely due to increased media coverage. Immediately after the ban was enforced on its network, the ISP said P2P activity had dropped by over 11 per cent compared to average levels.

“We saw a fall at the time of the block, made more dramatic by the increasing amount of such traffic in the weeks leading up to it. But volumes are already pretty much back to where they were before.”

The firm stressed that the figures related to the volume of P2P traffic, not necessarily the number of users. This made it possible, it said, that “hardcore” file-sharers might have become more prolific since the ban while casual users have been discouraged.